The Round Ireland Yacht Race is open for entries, offering offshore racing crews the chance to take on one of Ireland’s most challenging and celebrated sailing events. Organised by Wicklow Sailing Club in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club, the race covers approximately 704 nautical miles of dramatic Irish coastline and open ocean, making it one of the standout offshore races in the summer calendar.
Set to start from Wicklow Harbour on Saturday, 20 June 2026, the race will see monohulls begin at 13:00, with multihulls following at 13:10. Competitors will sail clockwise around Ireland, keeping all offshore islands to starboard—with the exception of Rockall—before finishing back in Wicklow after navigating some of the most varied and demanding waters in northern Europe.
Entries opened on 14 January 2026 and will remain open until 31 May 2026, with early-bird discounts available. The race attracts a diverse fleet, from high-performance IRC and Class40 racers to multihulls and competitive cruiser-racers, drawing sailors from Ireland and overseas. Already a growing number of entries, including international teams, underline the event’s appeal to experienced offshore crews.
Pre-race registration and safety inspections are scheduled for mid-June in both Wicklow and Dun Laoghaire, providing crews ample preparation before the demanding course begins. Prizegiving festivities are planned for Friday 26 June, capping off what promises to be another unforgettable chapter in the history of this classic race.